Biography

Irish Quakers and compatriots of William Penn, the family of John Holme emigrated to Pennsylvania very early in the history of that province. Prior to 1685, John Holme, Sr., had established himself as a mill wright in Lower Dublin Twp., near Philadelphia. Holme prospered in the new colony and came to own numerous tracts of land in and near the city, quarries, and mills, and he apparently owned at least some slaves. He was selected as one of the magistrates of the city of Philadelphia, and presided over the trial of William Bradford for publishing pamphlets of the "Quaker" schismatic, George Keith. It appears certain that John Holme, Jr., and his wife, Jane, had four sons, John, Thomas, Abel, and Enoch, and three daughters Hannah, Martha, and Priscilla. The various John Holmes appear also to be related to William Penn's well-known Surveyor General, Thomas Holme.